Machine for making tubes.



M. E. CURTIS.

' MACHINE FOR MAKING TUBES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 3.1907.

912,292, Patented Feb. 16, 1909 2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

In ventar.

. M. B. CURTIS. MACHINE FOR MAKING TUBES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 3.1907.

m 2 6 t 41 mm m d n m [6C M3 W Hid-7165585 ym a? MORRIS E. CURTIS, OF EVERETT, MASSACHUSETTS.

. MACHINE FOR MAKING TUBES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 16, 1909.

Application filed May 3, 1907. Serial No. 371,729.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MORRIS E. CUBTIs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Everett, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in Machines for Making Tubes, of which the following is a speci-.

fication.

This invention relates to improvements in machines and processes for forming tubes from fibrous material, and the object is to cheapen the cost of production of tubes such as are used for coverings for steam pipes and the like and to that end I provide a machine by means of which the plastic material is formed into a sheet and while in its plastic state saidsheet is wound into the form of a tube so that the layers adhere to each other without the necessity of coat the sheet withadhesive material and furt ermore by reason ofthe construction of said machine I am enabled. to substitute for the wool fiber cominonl used as the base of the material a much 0 eaper material such as cows hair or the like.

Theinvention consists in the combination and arrangement ofparts set forth in the following specification and particularly pointed out in the claims thereof.

Referring to the drawin Figure 1 is a plan ofmy improved 11151532118 for making tubes. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation taken on line 33 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2, looking toward the right. Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation taken on line 5.5 of Fig. 4, looking toward thevleft. 7 Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views (of the drawings.

In-the drawings, 10.is' a frame on which is supporteda receptacle 1 1 which is adapted to contain plastic'material such, for instance, as a mixture of old paper; hair, infusorial earthand' water. Any other suitable materials ma be used, if desired- An agitator 12' locate within the receptacle 11 comprises a. vertical shaft 13 on.- which are mounted a number of propeller blades. 14. The shaft 13 is journaled at its lower end in a bearing 15 and atitsu per end in .a bracket shaft-19. Theshaft 19 is journaled in -bear'-- ings 20 and 21.1nounted on the receptacle 11.

adapted to car A pulley 22 fast to the shaft 19 may be. connected to any suitable source. of power. As the pulley 22 is. rotated, the agitator 12 is rotated thereby thoroughly-mixing the plastic material contained in the receptacle 1-1. A conveyer belt 23 which is preferably formed of-wire netting connects two drums 24 and 25, said drums being journaled. in suitable bearings Y on the frame 10. A s rocket wheel 26. fastto the shaft of the min 24 is connected by a chain 27 to a sprocket wheel 28 fast to the shaft 19. The receptacle 11 is provided preferably at the bottom thereof with an outlet orifice 30, the size of which may be varied by means of a gate 3 1 which is adapted to slide in ways- Two racks 33, 33 fast to the ate 31 .mesh into. pinions 34, 34 fast to a s aft 35, said shaft being journaled in suitable bearings on the rece tacle 11. A worm gear 36 fast to the sha t 35 meshes into a worm 37,

said worm being fast'to a vertical shaft. 38.,

The shaft 38, is journaled bearings 39,.

40 and '41, the bearing 39 being fast to the f in alls 46 and 47 which are conveniently arranged so that the operator can by pulling one end or the other ,of the'rope va' the size of the outlet orifice 30.- The p astic material as-itflows out through the outlet orifice 30 is guided by a. guide 48 onto-the conveyer belt 23 and 1s retained on the sides thereof by the guides 49, 49. As the plastic material flows onto the belt 23 in the form of a sheet said belt is adapted to move-said sheet toward the right',the excess water running throughthefmeshes of said belt.

A seriesof supporting rolls 50 journaled in suitable bearings on the frame 10 are the weight of the belt and the sheet of p astic material.v thereon and prevent said belt fromsagging. Agate 51 which is slidably mounted in suitable was formed in the-guides 49-, 49is:adapted .to. e moved up and" down therein by pinions: 52,

52 which mesh into racks 53, 53 fastto: the 110 gate 51. Theipinions 52, 52 are fastto a shaft 54 journaled in suitable bearings on The ends 'ofthe. rope 431 .1t to proper thickness.

the frame 10, there being a. hand wheel 55 by means of which the shaft 54 may be rotated to raise or lower the gate 51, there being a thumb-screw 56 suitably arranged to sustain the gate 51 in position when properly adjusted As the sheet of plastic material passes beneath the gate 51, said gate'is adapted to level said sheet and gage A roll 57 which is preferably a heavy metal roll is arranged above the roll 25 in such a manner as to compress the sheet as it passes between said rolls. A second conveyer belt 58 connects two drums 59 and 60, said drums being journaled in suitable bearings on the frame. 10, the belt 58 being formed of any suitable material such, for instance, as felt.

Two rolls 61 and 62 arranged above the drums 59 and 60, respectively, are adapted to compress the sheet as it passes beneath them, said rolls being preferably heavy metal rolls. -A roll 63 journaled in suitable bearings on the frame 10 is adapted to prevent the belt 58 from sagging. Two winding rolls 64 and 65 are journaled in suitablerespectively, in such a manner that the sheet may be inserted in either one or the other of the spaces between said rolls and said-rods. Two sprocket wheels 68 and 69 fast to the shafts of the drums 24 and 25, respectively, are connected b a chain 70. A gear 71 fast to the shaft 0 the drum 25 meshes .into an intermediate gear 72, said intermediate gear meshing into a gear 73 fast to the shaft of the drum 59. Two sprocket wheels 74 and 75 fast to the shafts of the drums 59 and 60,. respectively, are connected by a chain 76. A second sprocket :wheel '77 fast to the shaft of the drum is .a stud 80. A spur gear 81 is connected bv an integral sleeve to the sprocket wheel 79.

The gear 81 meshes intogears 82 and 83 which are loosely mounted on the shafts 84 and 85, respectively, said shafts forming continuations of the rolls 64 and 65, respectively;

Two friction disks 86 and 87 are formed integral with the gears 82 and 83, respectively. wofriction disks 88 and 89 are fast to the shafts 84 and 85, respectively. A lever 90 located in annular grooves 95 and 96,'re-

\ spectively, formed in thehubs of the gears 82and 83. A worm gear 97'fast to the pivotal pin 91 meshesdlnto a worm 98-, said worm being fast to a shaft 99] journaled in suitable bearings. A hand wheel'100 is fast to the shaft 99so that the operator by rotating said hand wheel can throw the friction disk 86 into contact with the friction di k .88

as shown in Fig. 4 or can throw the friction disk 87 into contact with the friction disk 89 and simultaneously throw the disk 86 out of contact with the disk 88. It will be understood that when the disk 86 is in contact with the disk 88. the roll 64 is rotated by frictional contact and similarly when the dISk 87 is in contact with the disk 89, the shaft is rotated by frictional contact. A mandrel 101 is journaled in suitable bearings on the frame 10, there being a crank 102 connected therewith by means of which said mandrel may be rotated.

The general operation of the machine hereinbefore specifically described is as follows: The plastic material located within the rece tacle 11 is kept thoroughly mixed by t e rotation of the agitator 12 and said material flows outwardly through the outlet oriiice 30 onto the belt 23, surplus water runs out through the meshes of the belt 23 and as the sheet of material passes beneath the rolls 57, 61 and 62, successively, it is compressed. Theoperator slips the end of the sheet between the roll 64 and rod 67 as shown in Fig. 3 and by means of the hand wheel 100 throws the disk 86 into contact with the disk 88. It willsbe understood that as the disk 86 rotates it will slip against the disk 88 and rotate the roll 64 in such a manner as to exert but a gentle pull on the sheet which is being wound thereon. While the sheet of material is winding onto the roll 65 the operator unwinds rom the roll 64 the sheet of material 103 which has been previously wound thereon. He first winds onto the mandrel 101 a short piece of asbestos paper and then Winds the sheet 103 thereon to the required thickness, it being understood that said sheet is still moist and that as it is being wound onto the mandrel 101 it adheres to itself. When the tube has reached its proper thickness the o erator with a knife severe the sheet 103,

ing; or jaws in which it rests removesthe tu in its complete tubular form from the mandrel 101, and forms a second tube and so on repeating the process. Each tube is then dried in a suitable drying room e'mher before or after removal from the mandrel 101 as may be desired. Inthe meantime, the sheet I of material has been winding .onto the roll 65 so that by the time that the material-on the I roll 64 has been. exhausted the roll 65 is filled I with material. The operator then severe the 1 sheet of material andfstarts it winding from 1 the rolls 60 and 62 ontothe roll 64 andhe l then unwinds the sheet from the roll 65 onto the mandrel 101. fl

Having thus described my inventionfwhat I claimand desire by Letters Patent to s'ecure'is: v

1, In a machine of the character described, a rece tacle for plastic material, said receptac e provided with an outlet orifice, a

li ts the. mandrel 101 from the slotted bears adapted to rotate said rolls alternately, and

conveyer belt adapted to convey plastic! material away from said outlet orifice in the form of a sheet, two rolls upon which said sheet may be wound, and mechanism adapted to rotate said rolls alternately.

2. In a machine of the character described, a receptacle for plastic material, said receptacle provided with an outlet orifice, a conveyor belt adapted to convey plastic material away from said outlet orifice in the form of a sheet, two rolls on which said sheet may be wound, mechanism adapted to rotatesaid rolls alternately, and a mandrel upon which said sheet may be wound, while in its lastic state to form a tube.

3. n a machine of the character described, a rece tacle for plastic material, said receptac e provided with an outlet orifice, a conveyer belt adapted to. convey plastic material away from said outlet orifice in the form of a sheet, two rolls on which said sheet may he wound, and frictional driving means adapted to rotate said rolls alternately.

4. In a machine of the character described, a receptacle for plastic material, said receptacle provided with an outlet orifice, a conveyer belt' adapted to convey plastic material away fromsaid outlet orifice in the form of a sheet. two rolls on which said sheet may be wound, fri tional driving means a mandrel upon which said sheet may be wound while in its plastic state to form a tube.

5. In a machine of the characterdescribed, a rece )tacle for plastic material, said receptacle provided with an outlet orifice at or near its bottom, meansto adjust the size of said outlet orifice, an agitator located in said receptacle, a conveyer ,belt adapted to convey plastic'material away from said outlet orifice in the form of a sheet, and a mandrel upon which said, sheet may be wound while in its plastic state to form a tube.

6. In a machine of the character described, a receptacle for plastic material, said receptacle provided at or near its bottom with an outlet orifice, a gate adapted to vary the size of said outlet orifice, a conveyer belt adapted to convey plastic material away from said outlet orifice in the form of a sheet, a plurality of rolls adapted to comi press said sheet, two winding rolls on which said sheet may be wound, and frictionaldriving means adapted to rotate said rolls alternately.

7. In amachine of the character described, a rece tacle for plastic material said receptac e provided at or near its bottom with an outlet orifice, a conveyer belt adapted to convey plastic material away from said outlet orifice in the form of a sheet, a second belt adapted to convey said sheet away from said first belt, two winding rolls on which said sheet may be wound, frictional driving means adapted to rotate said rolls alternately, and mechanism operativel connecting said belts and said winding ro ls.

8. In a machine of the character described, a receptacle for plastic material, said receptacle provided at or near its bottom with an outlet orifice, a gate adapted to vary the size of said outlet orifice, mechanism for regulating the height of said gate, an agitator located within said receptacle, a conveyer belt adapted to convey plastic material away from said outlet orifice in the form of a sheet, a second belt adapted to convey said,

sheet away from said first belt, two winding rolls on which said sheet may be wound, means to rotate said rolls alternatel and mechanism operatively connecting sai agitatoil, said first belt, said second belt, and said r0 s.

9. In a machine of the character described, a receptacle 1provided with an outlet orifice, a conveyer elt adapted to convey plastic material away from said outlet orifice in the form of a sheet, a plurality of rolls adapted to compress said sheet, two winding rolls on which said sheet may be wound, and means adapted to rotate said rolls alternately.

10. In a machine of the character des ribed, a receptacle for plastic material 

